House Democratic Leader Elect Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) talks to the crowd on the Capitol steps shortly after Democratic representatives walked out of the House debate on right to work. (Melissa Anders | MLive.com)Melissa Anders | MLive.com

LANSING, MI - Michigan Democrats could try more walkouts to aid protesters, make legislative clerks read bills word-by-word and read more installments of Wikipedia articles in an effort to delay the next votes on right-to-work legislation.

All of those tactics were used this week, and could be used again. But they’re not enough to stop Republicans who hold the majority in the Legislature from passing laws to make Michigan the nation’s 24th right-to-work state.

The bills are expected to be wrapped up and sent to Gov. Rick Snyder next week – or maybe the week after at the latest. The issue has put Michigan in the national spotlight.

“Legislatively, it’s very unlikely that we’re going to be able to stop these,” said Rep. Tim Greimel of Auburn Hills, who will be the leader of House Democrats next year. “We knew that going into it. We have had relatively little leverage. We’ve been exercising the very little leverage we have to the greatest extent possible. And we’re certainly looking at all options moving forward.”

Republicans have a 26-12 edge over Democrats in the Senate and a 64-46 advantage in the House.

Once Snyder signs the right-to-work laws – which would prohibit making the payment of union fees a condition of employment -- it’s likely the next stop for opponents will be asking courts to block or slow implementation. When Indiana became a right-to-work state earlier this year, opponents sued – but so far that has not stopped the Indiana law from beginning to take effect.

“Certainly our caucus and similarly interested individuals and groups throughout the state are going to be looking at all possible avenues for legal action,” Greimel said.

One option that does not appear likely is an effort to overturn the law through a vote of the people. The bills include a $1 million appropriation to help state agencies deal with implementation. That sort of clause gives a law legal protection against being overturned by a vote of the people through a referendum.

Republicans in both the House and Senate approved right-to-work bills Thursday. Both chambers must approve the same bills – and Snyder must sign them – for the legislation to become law.

Rules require a five-day wait before the House and Senate can vote on each others’ bills after they initially pass one chamber. One of the bills passed Thursday – House Bill 4054 – remains in the chamber and hasn’t been sent to the Senate because of a procedural request for a vote reconsideration. But there are two other right-to-work bills in play. Republicans only need to pass two bills – one covering the public sector and one covering the private sector – to accomplish their right-to-work goals. That gives Republicans plenty of flexibility to resume right-to-work votes Tuesday, when they are next scheduled to be in session.

Large union protests are a given when lawmakers return to session. But the protests do not appear to be deterring Republicans from completing their fast-paced push to turn Michigan – a relative labor stronghold with a rich union history – into a right-to-work state.

“That’s part of the democratic process,” House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, said of the union protests. “They’re free to do so. They did that today (Thursday). … But we all represent a full district. And so we listen to our constituents in a variety of ways. This is just one of the ways people let their voice be heard.”